10 of 11Goodyear Eagle Supercar G:2 tires on lighter 20-inch wheels are parts taken from the ZL1 Camaro for the 2013 Camaro 1LE.

Photo by FPI Studios

11 of 11The interior of the new Camaro 1LE.

Photo by FPI Studios

It was only a matter of time before Chevrolet responded to the track-focused Ford Mustang Boss 302 with a version of the Camaro. The two pony cars have always gone blow-for-blow, ranging from the relatively pedestrian V6 editions to the high-horsepower ZL1 and Shelby GT500. However, there wasn't an equivalent to the Boss 302 in the Camaro lineup until now, with the arrival of the optional 1LE Performance package for the 2013 model year.

The 1LE package may be familiar to Camaro fans, as it was originally introduced in 1988 on the third-generation model to help competitors in the Pro-Am road-racing series struggling with handling issues. Fast-forward to 2013, and it returns to tighten things up on the Camaro SS, which suffers from a suspension generally considered soft, and to add a few other track-focused alterations.

The $3,500 package begins with an exclusive manual transmission that has higher final drive (3.91 vs. 3.45), closer-ratio gearing and an air-to-liquid cooling system lifted from the ZL1. Additional borrowed components from the ZL1 parts bin include lighter, 20-inch wheels covered in Goodyear Eagle Supercar G:2 tires, wheel bearings, toe links and rear shock mounts. More changes come in the form of rear monotube shocks in place of the stock SS's twin-tube versions for improved body control, thicker antiroll bars and a strut-tower bar.

According to Chevy, the suspension improvements enable the Camaro 1LE to achieve more than 1.0 g of lateral acceleration, which also forced engineers to beef up the rear-axle half-shafts to handle the higher traction levels. The ZL1's high-capacity fuel pump and additional fuel pickups were also added to prevent fuel starvation in hard-cornering situations.

Setting the 1LE apart visually from the standard SS are a matte-black hood, functional front splitter, rear spoiler, the aforementioned 20-inch wheels finished in black and red Brembo brake calipers. The cabin benefits from the ZL1's flat-bottom, microfiber-covered steering wheel and short shifter topped with a microfiber shift knob.

With all of that, Camaro chief engineer Al Oppenheiser has aimed high with the 1LE package. He isn't just targeting the standard Boss 302, but also the Boss 302 Laguna Seca, which wears R-compound tires.

To experience the 1LE package firsthand, we spent an afternoon lapping GingerMan Raceway in South Haven, Mich. Shooting out of pit lane onto the straight between turns two and three, you have the same 426-hp experience from the LS3 V8 as with the Camaro SS—the 1LE package unfortunately doesn't include any power upgrades. You do, however, quickly appreciate the short shifter that slots nicely into gear, and the feel of the grippy shift knob and steering wheel in your hands.

Where the 1LE changes really start to surface is when you jam the brakes to set up for turns and begin to crank the wheel. What follows is a bit of initial lean, but once a particular side of the car is loaded, it hangs on tight and scrambles through corners with aplomb. Steering is more responsive to inputs, no doubt aided in large part to the beefier and stickier Goodyear rubber.

With the traction system set to competition mode, which loosens the shackles and allows for more slip angle, we enjoyed the ability to bring the rear end around using the throttle. We also have to tip our hat to the four-pot Brembo brakes for the consistent and strong performance throughout a day of punishment from numerous drivers.

Oppenheiser says the 1LE package “wakes up the SS suspension,” and we have to agree. Compared with a normal SS, the 1LE doesn't fall on its side and is much more composed and confident through turns. There's still some roll and dive under braking, but it's acceptable for a 3,800-pound vehicle. And while a little more output from the engine would be nice to go with the other goodies in the Performance package, 426 hp is plenty strong to make quick work of straights and is easy enough to put down out of corners.

With the Camaro 1LE wearing a base price of $37,035, the value argument is in its corner compared with the Boss 302, which starts at $42,995 and jumps to $49,990 for the Laguna Seca version that Oppenheiser says the 1LE rivals.

Which one would we take? We think back-to-back drives of the two are required before making that call.